Data Transfer for Dummies! 2011 Macbook to 2009 iMac

[rwh63]

before i start, if anyone needs to get acquainted with the iMac, here is the thread i started late last year (dump find): https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/help-2009-imac-issues.2329363/

i got a lot of assistance with resurrecting it, put in a new 1TB hard drive, installed OS High Sierra (max OS). then i let it rest until now. at this point, i want to upgrade the laptop to high sierra also (max OS), but before i do that i would like to transfer everything from my laptop to the iMac (both as a back up and so i can use the iMac just like the laptop: music library, photo/video library, all documents and downloads, etc). i was told by Apple that the OS would not transfer, which is good. after this happens, i would upgrade laptop to high sierra.

i need to accomplish this by firewire (or bluetooth). my laptop usb ports are shot. can someone successfully outline the proper steps for tis procedure? Apple was going to send links for migration assistant, but i trust you guys more!

 

[zarmanto]

I don't think you'll need Migration Assistant, unless you're attempting to migrate your entire user profile. (I've had bad experiences with that sort of thing in the past, so I generally just don't even try it anymore.) And Bluetooth would probably take... oh, about a year or so to copy your data, so that's right out. It could be you meant to say WiFi rather than Bluetooth, but WiFi on those older Macs would probably still take a fair amount of time; probably best to go with the fastest option available to you, and fall back to slower options only if that doesn't work.

That said: your fastest option is by far and away those FireWire ports. You should be able to make your data transfer happen by way of Target Disk Mode; you just need the right cable. Once you've mounted the old Mac as a Firewire disk on the new Mac, just navigate to your user folder and grab whatever files you want.

If you're also looking to migrate your old software from your Apps folder, be aware that some apps aren't quite as drag-and-drop friendly as others; you may end up having to locate the original installers instead.

 

[rwh63]

the Apple person i spoke to didn't know what a firewire was! i used Target disc when i used my laptop to create an OS on the newly installed hard drive. more or less looking to make a clone. all my data, favorites, the way things are set up on my laptop.

 

[zarmanto]

Yeah... Firewire is old tech at this point, so you kind'a need to find a gray haired geek in order to get good info on it. (Enter... me. 👴) Newer Macs replaced FireWire with Thunderbolt as the high speed external bus -- and the intermediary point was I believe around 2012, as the 2012 Mini had both Thunderbolt and FireWire. (The 2014 Mini had two Thunderbolt ports, and no FireWire.)

And yes, the use case you're describing does indeed sound like a good argument in favor of the Migration Assistant.

 

[rwh63]

yes, my early 2011 MacBook pro has firewire, thunderbolt 1, usb, mini display port, disc drive. the good old days!

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

You can use the older technology of Ethernet. Connect both Macs to the same router, and transfer the files over.

 

[Fishrrman]

Unless you are careful, you will probably experience permissions problems by copying from one Mac to the other. You'll need to make the transfer in a way that AVOIDS such problems.

My suggestion:
Get an EXTERNAL drive (firewire or USB, firewire might be a little faster but USB will be more practical).
A USB flashdrive of sufficient size could be an alternative. You don't have to do it "all at once".

Copy what you need to the "intermediary" drive.

Take the drive to the "target" Mac.
Connect it and let the icon mount on the desktop.
DO NOT "open the icon" yet.

Click ONE TIME on the drive icon to select it.
Summon up the "get info" box (command-i).

At the bottom of get info, click the lock and enter the password (the one you use on the "target" Mac).
Put a check into "ignore ownership on this volume" (sharing and permissions).
Close get info.

Now whatever you copy from the intermediary drive will "come under the ownership" of your account on the target Mac. No permissions problems.